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On Monday, President Obama released his 2013 budget plan, including a $2 million cut from 2012 spending levels for HOPWA—the program that funds housing supports for people with AIDS. HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan said in the budget briefing that the $2 million cut was insignificant.

Seroconverted: Early 80sTested & confirmed what I already knew: early 90s

Current regimen: Atripla. Last regimen: Epzicom, Sustiva (since its inception with NO adverse side effects: no vivid dreams and NONE of the problems people who can't tolerate this drug may experience: color me lucky )Past regimensFun stuff (in the past): HAV/HBV, crypto, shingles, AIDS, PCP

Actually, having worked in human services for the past 20 years - as direct service all the way up to administrator and at local, NPO, and state levels - I hate to say it, but the same way politicians say "sound bites" and stretch the truth ---- so do some executives and administrators of NPOs (Non-profit organizations) etc.

The $2 million is slightly over 1/2 of 1% of the total funding of $332 million. The NPO execs will say that 300+ families will not receive it, but the truth is that much more money than this is "lapsed" every year in the programs due to mismanagement by either the local government agencies that distribute the money to programs and/or the providers that receive the money.

Also, a quick scan of guidestar.org will show that the executive director of Housing Works - one of the primary agencies in NYC that distributes HOPWA funding in that locale made pulled down a salary (not including non-salary benefits) of $204,800.... (The agency had a budget of $9.9 million).... and his salary plus the salaries of 6 other management staff totaled $1.1 million (almost 10% of the agency's total budget). Keep in mind this is just one large human service agency...... if you look up some others, such as San Francisco AIDS Foundation - which had a budget of $18.9. million - paid its CEO $229,000 and its other 7 top administrators a total of $1,057,000. So between just these two organizations, the top management was paid over $2.3 million.

While I don't like to see cuts in budgets for HOPWA - at the same time, when most Housing Specialists who actually do the direct services are making barely a living wage ($20-30,000 a year) the execs are pocketing hundreds of thousands of dollars..... With just the top management of two organizations (out of the several hundred ASOs in existence in the US) pulling in over $2 million - if they are really that concerned with potential affects to people with HIV receiving housing, maybe they will rectify the disparity between their pay and the pay of their direct service staff -----

I'm not saying that these organizations don't do good work --- but I also know the "game" that execs play when any type of cut comes along...... it is the nature of the business...... they are worried about their pay usually, not the services to clients. I guarantee you that if HOPWA caps its administrative costs or lowers the cap on administrative costs that can be charged, you would not see any clients turned away, but what you would see is some executives that run these agencies quit having "golden parachute" types of positions - and acting like they are running a Fortune 500 Company ---- forgetting that they are in the business of human services and saving, improving and empowering lives.

While I love AHF (AIDS Healthcare Foundation) --- they had a budget of $79 million in 2009 --- and their executive director received a total compensation package of $369,000 (with a base salary of $257,663.

All nonprofit organizations IRS Form 990s are available online --- I always check them out - particularly when they want to pay their grant writers (who bring in revenue) $40 or $45K a year - while they pocket $200K a year..... then try to play the sad violin when there is what really does amount to an insignificant cut (when total budget is looked at) rather than answering the question "why do you pay your direct service staff - many of whom are living with HIV pennies while you walk away with hundreds of thousand of dollars a year?"

Actually, having worked in human services for the past 20 years - as direct service all the way up to administrator and at local, NPO, and state levels - I hate to say it, but the same way politicians say "sound bites" and stretch the truth ---- so do some executives and administrators of NPOs (Non-profit organizations) etc.

The $2 million is slightly over 1/2 of 1% of the total funding of $332 million. The NPO execs will say that 300+ families will not receive it, but the truth is that much more money than this is "lapsed" every year in the programs due to mismanagement by either the local government agencies that distribute the money to programs and/or the providers that receive the money.

Also, a quick scan of guidestar.org will show that the executive director of Housing Works - one of the primary agencies in NYC that distributes HOPWA funding in that locale made pulled down a salary (not including non-salary benefits) of $204,800.... (The agency had a budget of $9.9 million).... and his salary plus the salaries of 6 other management staff totaled $1.1 million (almost 10% of the agency's total budget). Keep in mind this is just one large human service agency...... if you look up some others, such as San Francisco AIDS Foundation - which had a budget of $18.9. million - paid its CEO $229,000 and its other 7 top administrators a total of $1,057,000. So between just these two organizations, the top management was paid over $2.3 million.

While I don't like to see cuts in budgets for HOPWA - at the same time, when most Housing Specialists who actually do the direct services are making barely a living wage ($20-30,000 a year) the execs are pocketing hundreds of thousands of dollars..... With just the top management of two organizations (out of the several hundred ASOs in existence in the US) pulling in over $2 million - if they are really that concerned with potential affects to people with HIV receiving housing, maybe they will rectify the disparity between their pay and the pay of their direct service staff -----

I'm not saying that these organizations don't do good work --- but I also know the "game" that execs play when any type of cut comes along...... it is the nature of the business...... they are worried about their pay usually, not the services to clients. I guarantee you that if HOPWA caps its administrative costs or lowers the cap on administrative costs that can be charged, you would not see any clients turned away, but what you would see is some executives that run these agencies quit having "golden parachute" types of positions - and acting like they are running a Fortune 500 Company ---- forgetting that they are in the business of human services and saving, improving and empowering lives.

While I love AHF (AIDS Healthcare Foundation) --- they had a budget of $79 million in 2009 --- and their executive director received a total compensation package of $369,000 (with a base salary of $257,663.

All nonprofit organizations IRS Form 990s are available online --- I always check them out - particularly when they want to pay their grant writers (who bring in revenue) $40 or $45K a year - while they pocket $200K a year..... then try to play the sad violin when there is what really does amount to an insignificant cut (when total budget is looked at) rather than answering the question "why do you pay your direct service staff - many of whom are living with HIV pennies while you walk away with hundreds of thousand of dollars a year?"

Absolutely infuriating. One of the big problems across the board when it comes to service organisations. There should definitely be some sort of cap on executive wages when a large part of their funding comes from government sources.

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

$2 Millions is a huge number and when you see how many people have been affected by it. However, if you look at the big picture, I will resonant with the secretary that it is insignificant changes to the total budget.

It might not be related to the thread, but Obama corrected two laws that are related to HIV/AIDS.

1.Obama lifted 22-year-old travel ban on visitors with HIV/AIDS. People with HIV/AIDS will be able to visit USA freely.2.Obama removed HIV/AIDS from Immigration Medical Screening process. Testing for HIV infection is NOT required. This sends message to billions of people that HIV is not a death sentence anymore.

These two NEW rules/laws will impact or has already impacted millions of people. These also will help to reduce stigma of HIV/AIDS.

If we look at the picture and the economy, Budget cut is really small. I also see the impact of numbers of people who will be affected by it. Hope, they can apply and get qualified for homes through non-profit orgs.

While I one hundred percent agree that putting wage caps on executives is the right thing to do, I also believe that it has to start from the private sectors. Private company executives get ridiculous bonuses. Govt. always loses talents to private sector because of that.

While I one hundred percent agree that putting wage caps on executives is the right thing to do, I also believe that it has to start from the private sectors. Private company executives get ridiculous bonuses. Govt. always loses talents to private sector because of that.

Fair point. They should both be capped - and at an equal level as well, so one isn't draining talent from the other.

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

I worked in "non-profit" fundraising / charity circuit for years. Its a group of people that includes corporate executives, the very wealthy with private family foundations, big old huge wealthy foundations, socialites, power brokers from all walks of life who sit on powerful boards, and then yes administration of the agencies. Komen made 1/2 a million a year, and behaves like an A List jet-setting power broker. Presidents of top ranking universities can pull down 1-2 million. There are high salaries because 1) there is competition between agencies to get the talented people who can continue raking in the donations in addition to being administrators of the particular agency. 2) They vote themselves high salaries to be acceptly perpared to hobnob with their rich and powerful donors. 3) Its a hard job and high salary reward top spots that include hard work.

Its an uneasy mix. But philanthropy is one thing Americans do particularly well. That is partially because the government doesn't fund things that other governments do fund. It will be interesting to see the way forward on this. The right seems to think private funds can pick up the slack whenever government funds are lacking. They overlook all the hideous holes in the safety net. The left sees the holes, and also decries the corporatisation of services, agencies, culture, education, that might best be kept untainted by corporate interests. It's a very messy party of many agendas indeed. Five minutes of watching that hideous CEO of the Komen Foundation and you knew she was OVERPAID and full of herself. There are DOZENS of awful big agency heads like this. VIP in their own minds. But that's not to say every big agency head making an upper middle class income is overpaid or ripping off its agency, donors, or the clients served.

« Last Edit: February 18, 2012, 10:10:09 AM by mecch »

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“From each, according to his ability; to each, according to his need” 1875 K Marx

Phil's post talked about the director of some non profits making >$200k per year. Is this amount considered "outragous"? What would you cap it at? How much should the executive director of a non profit make?

If your point of capping a directors salary is to funnel more money to direct services, and by effect of your cap you end up with an inferior executive director, which in turn leads to even less money in direct services, whats your point?

If your point of capping a directors salary is to funnel more money to direct services, and by effect of your cap you end up with an inferior executive director, which in turn leads to even less money in direct services, whats your point?

Feel-good knee jerk reaction is my bet.

btw, if these were salary levels in Cedar Rapids then they'd have a point.

It's difficult to imagine that an HIV+ person could maintain good health without a decent place to live. For a great nation not to have universal health care and to continue to allow waiting lists for medications is a crime. Now people must also fight for housing but here in New York they give huge sums of money to slumlords who own horrible welfare hotels and charge the city a bundle nightly when the city could build affordable housing or place singles and families in existing housing for much less money. So we know the sacred cows in our society- corporate execs and slumlords amongst others reap the most benefits of misspent tax dollars.

Jody

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"Wake up to find out that you are the eyes of the world". "Try to discover that you are the song that the morning brings."

It's difficult to imagine that an HIV+ person could maintain good health without a decent place to live. For a great nation not to have universal health care and to continue to allow waiting lists for medications is a crime. Now people must also fight for housing but here in New York they give huge sums of money to slumlords who own horrible welfare hotels and charge the city a bundle nightly when the city could build affordable housing or place singles and families in existing housing for much less money. So we know the sacred cows in our society- corporate execs and slumlords amongst others reap the most benefits of misspent tax dollars.

Jody

You're absolutely right, Jody. It's really despicable to think that the non-standards which HASA allows as so-called compliance when it comes to virtually anyone being able to set up an SRO for pozzies to be placed in as "emergency" housing. I had a friend who was placed in one such tragic situation in Brooklyn some years back and the owner of the building was trying to extort additional money from him on top of what he was getting from HASA, and my friend had to find somewhere else to live because his caseworker absolutely refused to assist him in providing a more suitable placement, no matter how much he complained. Even going to GMHC for advocacy assistance wasn't helpful. Talk about stress.

Seroconverted: Early 80sTested & confirmed what I already knew: early 90s

Current regimen: Atripla. Last regimen: Epzicom, Sustiva (since its inception with NO adverse side effects: no vivid dreams and NONE of the problems people who can't tolerate this drug may experience: color me lucky )Past regimensFun stuff (in the past): HAV/HBV, crypto, shingles, AIDS, PCP

Aren't these housing program for below poverty level household(s)? Can a person with AIDS get housing assistance if they are above the poverty level? Would having a job, home and income disqualify you for such assistance?

Aren't these housing program for below poverty level household(s)? Can a person with AIDS get housing assistance if they are above the poverty level? Would having a job, home and income disqualify you for such assistance?

Most programs who receive HOPWA money, which comes from HUD, have a cut off of 300 percent of the federal poverty level. That is about $2,800 a month.

The person receiving the assistance is required to pay 30 percent of their gross montly income toward the rent.

The real problem with the program is the funding has always been limited and the rent caps are unrealistic.

In the area where I live, the cap os $542 a month for a one bedroom. That amount has to include all utiilties, or you have to subtract a utility allowance to the amount eligible for the rent.

So, if the person pays for electricity too, and the utility allowance is $30, then the rent for the apartment cannnot be more than $512 a month.

The problem is, the average rent in my area starts at about $800 a month plus utilites for some of the older apartments. Newer ones go for $1,000 to $1,200 a month for a small, but tidy, one bedroom apartment - plus utitilies.

I"d like to know where these aso's are at that pay such high salaries. The aso where I work, in South Bend IN has managers, with no executive director. The managers include my boss (head of client services), the director of prevention and the accountant. They all just took a paycut so they wouldn't have to cut out any care coordinator positions, though my position went part-time.

For our program, the major funds come from the Indiana State Dept of Health. The "big boss" director of client services only makes in the $30's. So things aren't so abundant here in Hoosierville.

Our HOPWA program here helps many. A lot of people get financial help with rent from township trustees, which most of the time is what the agency will accept for full rent. The program is limited to two years, though.

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I've never killed anyone, but I frequently get satisfaction reading the obituary notices.-Clarence Darrow

The problem is, the average rent in my area starts at about $800 a month plus utilites for some of the older apartments. Newer ones go for $1,000 to $1,200 a month for a small, but tidy, one bedroom apartment - plus utitilies.

You girls need to learn to rough it -- I pay less than that for my apartment.

You girls need to learn to rough it -- I pay less than that for my apartment.

You either got very lucky or you're living in a subprime area. Rents in Lafayette vary from 600-1000 a month for a one bedroom and through that spectrum you go from ghetto to luxury. I'm assuming you live in a one bedroom and not an efficiency?

You either got very lucky or you're living in a subprime area. Rents in Lafayette vary from 600-1000 a month for a one bedroom and through that spectrum you go from ghetto to luxury. I'm assuming you live in a one bedroom and not an efficiency?

Yes, a 1 bedroom. Small though ~600 sq. ft. but then I don't know why a single individual needs more than that.

... and yet I've been told over and over on this board that it costs so much more to live in a city in the Northeast. Hey, guess what -- I don't shell out for a car, maintenance of same, and gas either.

Yes, a 1 bedroom. Small though ~600 sq. ft. but then I don't know why a single individual needs more than that.

... and yet I've been told over and over on this board that it costs so much more to live in a city in the Northeast. Hey, guess what -- I don't shell out for a car, maintenance of same, and gas either.

Oh come on Miss P show us that very lavish upscale penthouse loft your living in up there in Philly PA.

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"it's so nice to be insane, cause no-one ask you to explain" Helen Reddy cc 1974

I"d like to know where these aso's are at that pay such high salaries. The aso where I work, in South Bend IN has managers, with no executive director. The managers include my boss (head of client services), the director of prevention and the accountant. They all just took a paycut so they wouldn't have to cut out any care coordinator positions, though my position went part-time.

For our program, the major funds come from the Indiana State Dept of Health. The "big boss" director of client services only makes in the $30's. So things aren't so abundant here in Hoosierville.

Our HOPWA program here helps many. A lot of people get financial help with rent from township trustees, which most of the time is what the agency will accept for full rent. The program is limited to two years, though.

As with any business - there are those businesses where the execs are paid exhorborant salaries and those where salaries are more in line with revenue.

In the case of your ASO - they have been functioning without an Exec. Director... and they have taken some extreme hits in revenue with over $100,000 less in revenue in the past four years - dropping from $917,816 in 2006 to $808,788. Revenue was $1,137,791 in 2004. So, since 2004 the agency has lost nearly 30% of its revenues -

A huge contributor to this loss could be the BODs (Board of Directors) lack of appointing an Exec. Director. Funders are very hesitant to give/increase funding to an agency that does not have an Executive Director. You would think that the BOD would see that the revenues are being directly affected by not naming an Exec Director --- it is shocking to see the agency's last three years of IRS 990s where they state "the agency does not have an executive director at this time" --- How long are they going to wait to get one?

Agencies - particularly not-for-profits - have to have a central, designated party who serves as Executive Director - keeping the agency focused on its mission, assuring accountability, and providing vision - these are things that help an agency grow, thrive, and survive - particularly in today's competitive funding environment.

Phil, thanks to a move by Daniels (Indiana's governor), Medicaid got a new clause and that wiped out our Medicaid money. The truth is, they haven't had an executive director for quite a while. Was told they cannot afford one. They don't have a grant writer either, so the managers are responsible for writing grants for their departments.

My boss is the head of the housing department as well as care coordination, which is now under one umbrella, "client services."

Mark I think most of Indiana does pretty good, at least from what I've been told, both by staff and clients. Except for a couple areas, which just aren't worth talking about.

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I've never killed anyone, but I frequently get satisfaction reading the obituary notices.-Clarence Darrow

Phil, thanks to a move by Daniels (Indiana's governor), Medicaid got a new clause and that wiped out our Medicaid money. The truth is, they haven't had an executive director for quite a while. Was told they cannot afford one. They don't have a grant writer either, so the managers are responsible for writing grants for their departments.

My boss is the head of the housing department as well as care coordination, which is now under one umbrella, "client services."

Mark I think most of Indiana does pretty good, at least from what I've been told, both by staff and clients. Except for a couple areas, which just aren't worth talking about.

Wow Betty - and you all do some pretty amazing things on a very limited budget -Hopefully, the Board will realize that even a "part-time" Exec Director or one that accepts below market pay the first couple of years would really assist in securing additional grant funding.

If you want, PM me with your contact info and I will forward any grant leads I have your way --- I may also be able to assist in putting a couple of grants together for you all - and I have some colleagues down this way that may also be willing to lend a hand pro bono.

"Most programs who receive HOPWA money, which comes from HUD, ...the person receiving the assistance is required to pay 30 percent of their gross montly income toward the rent."

Not so and this common misunderstanding makes me angry. This is how bureaucrats and contractors exploit the presumed ignorance of the poor and disabled! I believe both HOPWA and Ryan white are a huge scandal!

You sure get the dynamic right though but just google it <HUD & "housing costs" & utility>

HOPWA is federal money subject to the HUD rules as set down on the Code of Federal Regulations. Pursuant to HUD rules all the federally subsidized tenants must pay one third of their "adjusted income" towards "gross housing costs" (NOT rent!). "Gross housing cost" is a legal term of art that include rent AND utilities!

Understand this. It is critical. Your rent share must be reduced by the amount of your utility allowance (UA) so as to keep housing costs within the 1/3 mandate. As you can see, by denying you a UA (or giving you a low one) the housing authority or government contractor makes you pay more than your share and essentially steals part of your entitlement. At least Robin Hood stole from the rich!

Adjusted or total income is also a legal term of art in that the income must be reduced by medical costs not covered by others such as insurance or Medicare or ADAP. That means your insurance premiums or co-pays or cost of companion animal reduce the income of which 1/3 goes to ‘housing costs which = rent AND income." See how the deck can be stacked so they can deal from the bottom?

I do not practice law but I used to and I had experience in this arena. This issue has burned me up for years. WHERE are our advocates!? Were are our watch dogs?! ACT UP!

So to increase the budget is just to put money in the execs pockets no matter what? The more money in the programs then the higher the salaries? You can't win. I guess they have the budget tied to the execs salaries.

Obama isn't that stupid. Nor that cruel.I'd expect the funding would be restored down the road, or rolled into another part of the budget. Or transferred into an entirely new program expanded to do much more.He could expand the general housing assistance program and roll the AIDS program into that.Who knows? But I wouldn't assume the worst until you know all the facts, and every detail. Has the general housing program been expanded? And could there be new wording that would actually better address and help persons needing AIDS assistance?I wouldn't assume the worse. Some of these budget plans are very complicated.Something cut here, shows up under another part of the funding where the over all is actually an improvement to the program.The media and the press are no longer concerned or competent enough to dig or understand an issue. All you hear is all about the sound bite.They never have any desire to report the details.

That it is, election time... I get daily email from the Obama Campaign asking for $3.00 because they are being out raised in contributions. Sometimes the sender is The President, the First Lady or VP Biden. If solo would write an email protesting this cut with a link to The White House and to HUD. The thousands of people who visit the Forums would have the opportunity to click and send Have the best dayMichael